Dutertes bow out of ALS Ice Bucket challenge

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 Aug) – Two Dutertes have bowed out of the ALS ice bucket challenge, after being challenged in public by different people who took on the public awareness campaign, and instead will donate to the cause.

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, who was challenged by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima Tuesday, said he was medically unavailable to accept the challenge and was yet to study how much he could donate for the cause.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, the mayor said he was just fresh out of the intensive care unit of a hospital.

According to Duterte, being poured with a bucket of ice water could get him back to the hospital.
“Maawa naman siya,” (May she have mercy on me) said Duterte, referring to De Lima.

Former Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, meanwhile, in a Facebook post asked brother Paolo Duterte, the incumbent vice mayor who challenged her, to instead name a Davao charity where she could donate money.

“May I request that each of you name a Davao charity where I will donate money,” she said on Facebook, stressing she can do it right the next day. She also posted a photograph of a bucket in the bathroom.

Paulo’s challenge came Sunday before he was doused in cold ice water by his wife and daughter.

The vice mayor, for his part, was challenged by friend Jay Server, along with musician Rico Blanco and lawyer Cid Bernedo.

Duterte and De Lima made news in the past during De Lima’s stint as head of the Commission on Human Rights.

In several confrontations, De Lima reprimanded Duterte for his stance about vigilantism in the city.

De Lima said she did not have any particular reason for nominating Duterte for the challenge, which is a move to raise awareness on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, a nerve ailment also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“Nothing, I just thought about them. And I hope they will accept my challenge. Many have already accepted the challenge all over the globe. That’s why I tell others, take the challenge, too, because it’s for a worthy cause. We can all help,” said De Lima in an interview posted on the online portal of Inquirer.

She also donated $100 or about P4,400 to the research to treat ALS.

Duterte said he was willing to donate to the cause, but he has to study the mechanics of the campaign first. “Let me see what it is all about and how much I can donate,” he said.